Hooked hosted the 50th anniversary bash of the Martha’s Vineyard chapter of the NAACP

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From left: Carrie Tankard, Nikki Giovanni, and Lorna Andrade. — Photo by Peter Graves

Founders, grandchildren of founders, a distinguished poet, and the Oak Bluffs police chief were among the crowd at the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP’s 50th anniversary soiree, held Saturday night at Hooked in Oak Bluffs. Speakers included educator and poet Nikki Giovanni; Oak Bluffs police chief and M.V. NAACP president Erik Blake; and notable M.V. NAACP founders and supporters Carrie Tankard, Vera Shorter, Jakki Hunt, and Dr. Lorna Andrade, among others.

Maggie Riseborough was presented with the “Rising Star” award. Ms. Riseborough is the granddaughter of Toby Dorsey, a founder and the first president of the M.V. NAACP chapter, and Lucille Dorsey, a founder and the first Secretary of the M.V. NAACP chapter.

“Maggie is a phenomenal young woman who embodies the term, ‘Godgiven talent’,” said event organizer Gladys Toscano.

Ms. Riseborough excelled in academics and sports at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, where she played on the basketball and track teams. She won numerous scholarships, including one of the 2013 MV NAACP Scholarship with an essay about her grandmother Lucille Dorsey. She’s also a talented vocalist — this summer, she sang the national anthem at the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks home games.

A tearful Ms. Riseborough accepted the award and thanked her family, and those in the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP chapter, who have been a source of inspiration. She will attend UMass Amherst in the fall.